Tony Bloom investment - Q&A held (updated)

[OTT]

11 hours ago, soonbe110 said:

Not if he buys shares from Budge and that’s the worry.  If FoH members play silly buggers he just buys Bidco, has 17+%, a seat on the Board and the club gets no financial investment. 

 

I would have thought refusing to sell him shares from the club would kind of torpedo the whole Jamestown deal. Why would Bloom want to remain involved if there was a feeling that the club/primary shareholder of the club didn't want him?

 

FWIW I had initially assumed this was Budges exit. I.e she would see the Bloom deal over the line, sell her shares and then retire. 

 

But evidently not  

[seagully]

54 minutes ago, hughesie27 said:

Our issue with this is tenfold because we have people paying £10 a month to FOH who think it gives them a right to receive weekly business updates from Budge herself.

🤣

[Nerja Jambo]

12 hours ago, soonbe110 said:

Given he can’t go above 24.99999999% then the difference between 17 and 24.999 is pretty much irrelevant.   Buying Bidco guarantees him an individual on the Board and given that it’s Anderson that has brought him on board I think between them they would amount to a lot more than the square root of sod all.  Hopefully we have a  right issue that he underwrites and he puts a chunk of cash into the club and Anderson et al also take up their rights.   That would be a significant injection of cash. 

Do we know for a fact that it was Anderson who brought him on board?

[Nerja Jambo]

2 hours ago, hughesie27 said:

Our issue with this is tenfold because we have people paying £10 a month to FOH who think it gives them a right to receive weekly business updates from Budge herself.

That's just stupid to say that. All people are looking for is more regular comms. from FoH as at present and for a good few years their comms. are shocking. They represent the members/owners and should remember that. 

Edited January 11 by Nerja Jambo

[GBJambo]

2 minutes ago, Nerja Jambo said:

That's just stupid to say that. All people are looking for is more regular comms. from FoH as at present and for a good few years their comms. are shocking. They represent the members/owners and should remember that. 

Nah we should be lucky we have a team to support. You are not allowed to question anything about the board. 

[usagi]

8 minutes ago, Nerja Jambo said:

Do we know for a fact that it was Anderson who brought him on board?

I was wondering the same thing.

[hughesie27]

44 minutes ago, Nerja Jambo said:

That's just stupid to say that. All people are looking for is more regular comms. from FoH as at present and for a good few years their comms. are shocking. They represent the members/owners and should remember that. 

That's not "All people are looking for" though. 

Recent weeks alone I've seen people claiming we should have been consulted on the design of the new main stand, the captaincy of the club, the appointment of Critchley and the wages offered to other candidates, minutebdetails about how the development of the New Stand was awarded and the costs approved,  and the make up of the board (beyond the FOH ones).

 

 

[Nerja Jambo]

51 minutes ago, GBJambo said:

Nah we should be lucky we have a team to support. You are not allowed to question anything about the board. 

Sad but true.

[Nerja Jambo]

7 minutes ago, hughesie27 said:

That's not "All people are looking for" though. 

Recent weeks alone I've seen people claiming we should have been consulted on the design of the new main stand, the captaincy of the club, the appointment of Critchley and the wages offered to other candidates, minutebdetails about how the development of the New Stand was awarded and the costs approved,  and the make up of the board (beyond the FOH ones).

 

 

And what's wrong with questioning how our club is run, how the major decisions are made. That is a far cry from what you are saying that some want a weekly update from Budge.

[hughesie27]

22 minutes ago, Nerja Jambo said:

And what's wrong with questioning how our club is run, how the major decisions are made. That is a far cry from what you are saying that some want a weekly update from Budge.

I was obviously being facetious. My point though is folk think their money equates to a right to influence decision they aren't informed or skilled enough to make. And they take that out on the club because of this.

 

I'm not talking about just "questioning" how the club is run. 

[FarmerTweedy]

1 hour ago, Nerja Jambo said:

That's just stupid to say that. All people are looking for is more regular comms. from FoH as at present and for a good few years their comms. are shocking. They represent the members/owners and should remember that. 

That just isn't remotely true.

[Nerja Jambo]

1 minute ago, FarmerTweedy said:

That just isn't remotely true.

You are joking surely. 

[ƒιѕнρℓαρѕ]

46 minutes ago, Nerja Jambo said:

And what's wrong with questioning how our club is run, how the major decisions are made. That is a far cry from what you are saying that some want a weekly update from Budge.

 

Meanwhile, in the previous post you agree with a guy saying you're not allowed to.

It's bullshit, of course you're allowed to. But you seem to think others shouldn't be allowed to disagree.

[Nerja Jambo]

6 minutes ago, ｕｎｋｎｏｗｎｕｓｅｒ said:

 

Meanwhile, in the previous post you agree with a guy saying you're not allowed to.

It's bullshit, of course you're allowed to. But you seem to think others shouldn't be allowed to disagree.

I think you should re-read the posts again and think about what is being said.

[hughesie27]

8 minutes ago, ｕｎｋｎｏｗｎｕｓｅｒ said:

 

Meanwhile, in the previous post you agree with a guy saying you're not allowed to.

It's bullshit, of course you're allowed to. But you seem to think others shouldn't be allowed to disagree.

The posts were sarcastic.

[ƒιѕнρℓαρѕ]

26 minutes ago, Nerja Jambo said:

I think you should re-read the posts again and think about what is being said.

 

If you didn't mean what you said, how is someone meant to know?

[Taffin]

2 hours ago, hughesie27 said:

That's not "All people are looking for" though. 

Recent weeks alone I've seen people claiming we should have been consulted on the design of the new main stand, the captaincy of the club, the appointment of Critchley and the wages offered to other candidates, minutebdetails about how the development of the New Stand was awarded and the costs approved,  and the make up of the board (beyond the FOH ones).

 

 

 

Don't see the issues with the ones in bold. Why wouldn't you consult those a product is being designed for? In any business or market that would seem good practice and may have avoided the costly shit shows along the way.

 

As for awards and costs the club chose to bring that scrutiny on themselves and quite easily could have avoided. Seemingly sketchy things (even when totally above board) will draw people to it.

 

As for the make up of the board, why wouldn't the members of a members organisation who owns a business be involved in it?

Edited January 11 by Taffin

[hughesie27]

2 minutes ago, Taffin said:

 

Don't see the issues with the ones in bold. Why wouldn't you consult those a product is being designed for? In any business or market that would seem good practice and may have avoided the costly shit shows along the way.

 

As for awards and costs the club chose to bring that scrutiny on themselves and quite easily could have avoided. Seemingly sketchy things (even when totally above board) will draw people to it.

 

As for the make up of the board, why wouldn't the members of a members organisation who owns a business be involved in it?

We are involved. We elect 2 Board members to represent us on our behalf. That means we don't need to have a vote every week on what colour to paint the walls.

 

Fan Owned not Fan Run.

[Bill Sikes]

8 minutes ago, Taffin said:

 

Don't see the issues with the ones in bold. Why wouldn't you consult those a product is being designed for? In any business or market that would seem good practice and may have avoided the costly shit shows along the way.

 

As for awards and costs the club chose to bring that scrutiny on themselves and quite easily could have avoided. Seemingly sketchy things (even when totally above board) will draw people to it.

 

As for the make up of the board, why wouldn't the members of a members organisation who owns a business be involved in it?

 

[Taffin]

Just now, hughesie27 said:

We are involved. We elect 2 Board members to represent us on our behalf. That means we don't need to have a vote every week on what colour to paint the walls.

 

Fan Owned not Fan Run.

 

I didn't suggest any of those things don't happen. That the board decide what colour the walls gets painted probably highlights why people are keen for a bit more clarity on power dynamics at board level.

 

And as for the other two points? Even putting being owners to one side -Consulting customers on a product/service for them seems like common sense. Also in any business, if you appoint a family member to a role or contract and it runs badly, people will pry into it.

[Taffin]

2 minutes ago, Bill Sikes said:

 

 

Nice pic, did you draw it?

[MoncurMacdonaldMercer]

38 minutes ago, Taffin said:

 

Nice pic, did you draw it?

like you said foh aside consulting/engaging with customers on certain things is not a bad practice at times - certain things, at times

 

most questioning met with the tired all inference from the high IQers that you expect to pick the team or even play - was cringey 10 years ago cringey and stale now

 

 

[Stumil]

Appreciate this isnt Brighton, but shows the evolution at Royal USG since they adopted Jamestown Analytics.  Modest transfer fees and a host of free transfers to start with.   

 

https://analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2024/12/09/transfer-gurus-royale-union-saint-gilloises-chris-oloughlin/#:~:text=The 2023 summer transfer window,raised over €38m altogether.&text=(Union Saint-Gilloise's sales in,the 2023 summer transfer window.)

[chrisyboy7]

30 minutes ago, Stumil said:

Appreciate this isnt Brighton, but shows the evolution at Royal USG since they adopted Jamestown Analytics.  Modest transfer fees and a host of free transfers to start with.   

 

https://analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2024/12/09/transfer-gurus-royale-union-saint-gilloises-chris-oloughlin/#:~:text=The 2023 summer transfer window,raised over €38m altogether.&text=(Union Saint-Gilloise's sales in,the 2023 summer transfer window.)

It's been a huge success everywhere. We are only just starting. 

[Craig_]

3 hours ago, Stumil said:

Appreciate this isnt Brighton, but shows the evolution at Royal USG since they adopted Jamestown Analytics.  Modest transfer fees and a host of free transfers to start with.   

 

https://analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2024/12/09/transfer-gurus-royale-union-saint-gilloises-chris-oloughlin/#:~:text=The 2023 summer transfer window,raised over €38m altogether.&text=(Union Saint-Gilloise's sales in,the 2023 summer transfer window.)

 

Fascinating stuff, thanks for posting. Interested by O'Loughlin, sounds similar to our own Graeme Jones to an extent. 

 

The other thing to note is that this place will likely lose its shit every time we sell a top player and their replacement takes a few months to come good. 

[hughesie27]

49 minutes ago, Craig_ said:

 

 

The other thing to note is that this place will likely lose its shit every time we sell a top player and their replacement takes a few months to come good. 

100% 

Money grabbing Budge. Spending transfers on hotel renovations etc etc.

[JayTeeJnr]

4 hours ago, Stumil said:

Appreciate this isnt Brighton, but shows the evolution at Royal USG since they adopted Jamestown Analytics.  Modest transfer fees and a host of free transfers to start with.   

 

https://analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2024/12/09/transfer-gurus-royale-union-saint-gilloises-chris-oloughlin/#:~:text=The 2023 summer transfer window,raised over €38m altogether.&text=(Union Saint-Gilloise's sales in,the 2023 summer transfer window.)

Thanks for posting - that was a good lunchtime read.

 

Although I was aware of USG's rise, I didn't know anything about the specifics of their trading or managerial roles.  It's good to see that they were initially operating with players that you'd expect Hearts could afford and that they were able to improve fairly quickly.

 

One thing that's crossed my mind is whether selling clubs will inflate the transfer fees when a team who work with Jamestown Analytics (JA) come calling. I know most teams now use data analysis but given the success of JA, clubs may question whether they're losing a player with a lot of potential who, if they improve them themselves, could quickly be worth a lot more.

[Paris 84]

11 minutes ago, JayTeeJnr said:

Thanks for posting - that was a good lunchtime read.

 

Although I was aware of USG's rise, I didn't know anything about the specifics of their trading or managerial roles.  It's good to see that they were initially operating with players that you'd expect Hearts could afford and that they were able to improve fairly quickly.

 

One thing that's crossed my mind is whether selling clubs will inflate the transfer fees when a team who work with Jamestown Analytics (JA) come calling. I know most teams now use data analysis but given the success of JA, clubs may question whether they're losing a player with a lot of potential who, if they improve them themselves, could quickly be worth a lot more.

I’m pretty sure they identify more than one player to fit the position they’re looking to fill. If the club overinflated their asking price above what JA don’t think is value, they’ll simply move on to the next target. 

[JayTeeJnr]

8 minutes ago, Paris 84 said:

I’m pretty sure they identify more than one player to fit the position they’re looking to fill. If the club overinflated their asking price above what JA don’t think is value, they’ll simply move on to the next target. 

Yes, it's been mentioned that JA would provide a list of players who fit the criteria and Hearts wouldn't always get their first/second/third choice for all sorts of reasons.

 

I was thinking more of the general concept that teams will be alerted to their players with an untapped potential that they might not have spotted themselves. They wouldn't have access to the specifics but it could make them more inclined to keep the player or bump up the price. The selling club would be benefitting from a simple but cost free JA 'service' that indicates they have a potentially valuable player on their books.

 

Maybe it doesn't change the overall dynamics of the player transfer world but it feels there's an opportunity for the selling clubs to be a bit cuter in negotiations when a JA associated club wants one of their players. 

[Smithian]

7 hours ago, Stumil said:

Appreciate this isnt Brighton, but shows the evolution at Royal USG since they adopted Jamestown Analytics.  Modest transfer fees and a host of free transfers to start with.   

 

https://analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2024/12/09/transfer-gurus-royale-union-saint-gilloises-chris-oloughlin/#:~:text=The 2023 summer transfer window,raised over €38m altogether.&text=(Union Saint-Gilloise's sales in,the 2023 summer transfer window.)

If Hearts could bring €38m over a decade I'd be thrilled.

[Lone Striker]

2 hours ago, JayTeeJnr said:

Thanks for posting - that was a good lunchtime read.

 

Although I was aware of USG's rise, I didn't know anything about the specifics of their trading or managerial roles.  It's good to see that they were initially operating with players that you'd expect Hearts could afford and that they were able to improve fairly quickly.

 

One thing that's crossed my mind is whether selling clubs will inflate the transfer fees when a team who work with Jamestown Analytics (JA) come calling. I know most teams now use data analysis but given the success of JA, clubs may question whether they're losing a player with a lot of potential who, if they improve them themselves, could quickly be worth a lot more.

On your last point about selling clubs playing hardball with us, its a possibility,  But my understanding is that the target players are likely to be close to outgrowing the club/league they play in, and have ambition to play in a "better" league.  The SPL is a stepping stone to that.   The player himself and his agent would hopefully put pressure on the selling club to get the deal done. 

 

 It seems the model we're being advised to follow is to give the target player a 4yr contract but be ready to sell him after 2 years (with a replacement target already identified).

Edited January 14 by Lone Striker

[Ricardo Quaresma]

Some posters on here are gelded and practically lobotomised

[Forrest]

4 hours ago, JayTeeJnr said:

Yes, it's been mentioned that JA would provide a list of players who fit the criteria and Hearts wouldn't always get their first/second/third choice for all sorts of reasons.

 

I was thinking more of the general concept that teams will be alerted to their players with an untapped potential that they might not have spotted themselves. They wouldn't have access to the specifics but it could make them more inclined to keep the player or bump up the price. The selling club would be benefitting from a simple but cost free JA 'service' that indicates they have a potentially valuable player on their books.

 

Maybe it doesn't change the overall dynamics of the player transfer world but it feels there's an opportunity for the selling clubs to be a bit cuter in negotiations when a JA associated club wants one of their players. 

Is that not effectively what sell-on clauses are for, though? 

[mitch41]

3 hours ago, Ricardo Quaresma said:

Some posters on here are gelded and practically lobotomised

 

1 hour ago, Forrest said:

Is that not effectively what sell-on clauses are for, though? 

Sounds yummy.

[mitch41]

On 10/01/2025 at 22:46, gjcc said:

To be fair it just looks like he’s listing names and companies. 
 

I wouldn’t have clicked it was “person, company that person was in, person, company that person was in” if it wasn’t for Farrmer, Kwik Fit

 

Hope he wasn’t drawing up the contracts. 😉

Just listing names and companies am I. Oh ye of little faith, please never doubt me when I tell the truth just for once rise above the slaggers and the misinformed. 
Believe you will feel better.

[gjcc]

24 minutes ago, mitch41 said:

Just listing names and companies am I. Oh ye of little faith, please never doubt me when I tell the truth just for once rise above the slaggers and the misinformed. 
Believe you will feel better.

Since you’ve misconstrued what I’ve said I’ll clarify. 
 

I wasn’t surprised someone thought you were claiming to have met a long deceased member of the Salvesen family due to the way the post was composed. 
 

You said: “…Barry Sealy, Christian Salveson, Tom Farrmer, Kwik Fit, Wallace Mercer, Dunedin Property Group and individuals from IBM, Johnson & Johnson…”

 

It’s not overt that you meant Barry Sealey of Christian Salvesen. It reads like you had meetings with Barry Sealey & Christian Salvesen.

 

When you could have been clearer and said: …Barry Sealy (Christian Salveson), Tom Farrmer (Kwik Fit), Wallace Mercer (Dunedin Property Group) and individuals from IBM, Johnson & Johnson…

 

 

[mitch41]

1 minute ago, gjcc said:

Since you’ve misconstrued what I’ve said I’ll clarify. 
 

I wasn’t surprised someone thought you were claiming to have met a long deceased member of the Salvesen family due to the way the post was composed. 
 

You said: “…Barry Sealy, Christian Salveson, Tom Farrmer, Kwik Fit, Wallace Mercer, Dunedin Property Group and individuals from IBM, Johnson & Johnson…”

 

It’s not overt that you meant Barry Sealey of Christian Salvesen. It reads like you had meetings with Barry Sealey & Christian Salvesen.

 

When you could have been clearer and said: …Barry Sealy (Christian Salveson), Tom Farrmer (Kwik Fit), Wallace Mercer (Dunedin Property Group) and individuals from IBM, Johnson & Johnson…

 

 

Oh sorry I wasn’t clearer, I’m retired now and it was a long time ago when I was a high flyer with the Red Arrows or was it the Flying Pigs. Sorry my friend I’m an OAP now and I don’t get around too much. I’ll have to end it here I think it’s my pussy wanting in.

[gregzy2k7]

I wonder when we are likely to hear more about the 10m investment and him buying a stake in the club, 

 

Hopefully the wheels are well in motion and can be concluded by the summer and some swift changes can be made in the directors board.

 

Exciting times ahead,

 

I haven't been this excited about the club since the Romanov revolution, hopefully we can get achieve the same level of success without the pitfalls this time.

[RudiSkacelsLeftPeg]

3 hours ago, gregzy2k7 said:

I wonder when we are likely to hear more about the 10m investment and him buying a stake in the club, 

 

Hopefully the wheels are well in motion and can be concluded by the summer and some swift changes can be made in the directors board.

 

Exciting times ahead,

 

I haven't been this excited about the club since the Romanov revolution, hopefully we can get achieve the same level of success without the pitfalls this time.

It’s all went a bit quiet since it initially broke. Wish we were told a bit more to be honest but I’m sure time will tell and things are progressing in the background. 
 

Certainly exciting times though.

[chrisyboy7]

1 hour ago, RudiSkacelsLeftPeg said:

It’s all went a bit quiet since it initially broke. Wish we were told a bit more to be honest but I’m sure time will tell and things are progressing in the background. 
 

Certainly exciting times though.

This how hearts operate. The don't spill until there is something to spill

[Hømme]

1 hour ago, RudiSkacelsLeftPeg said:

It’s all went a bit quiet since it initially broke. Wish we were told a bit more to be honest but I’m sure time will tell and things are progressing in the background. 
 

Certainly exciting times though.

 

There are meetings this month. Whether they have happened yet or not is unclear but things are going on in the background.

[jamboinglasgow]

26 minutes ago, Hømme said:

 

There are meetings this month. Whether they have happened yet or not is unclear but things are going on in the background.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if something is announced at the end of this month or into next month that an agreement has been reached and that it is going to be put to the members.

 

Then a month with Bloom and his people, and the foundation doing presentations and Q&As about the proposed agreement, put information about it documents etc. 

Edited January 15 by jamboinglasgow

[Ron Burgundy]

I'm just worried that the silence means there are problems between them. But I am a half glass type of guy anyway so maybe it means they are full steam ahead. Who knows?

[Rogue Daddy]

13 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

I'm just worried that the silence means there are problems between them. But I am a half glass type of guy anyway so maybe it means they are full steam ahead. Who knows?

Yeah, know what you mean.... the fact we're 'all in' with JTA, you would hope means Tb is a formality - to a degree... we have been talking to him for a year now (according to Mark Donaldson on SATF). I'm like you, glass half full - after a year, you would hope they're closer to a deal than not.

[sac]

January window was always going to be tough, and our league position doesnt help either.

Summer window will be completely different. The team will be unrecognisable for next season imo, and we’ll see more players coming in that we haven’t heard of.

We’ll also know by then what the TB deal with us is which should put a more positive outlook for the longer term.

Should only be football matters from now on, infrastructure is all in place and working well.

100% focus on the team from now onwards, those leaving now or at the EoS should be kept away from those staying, couldn’t care less about sentiment atm it’s all about rolling the sleeves up and getting stuck in.

[logopolis]

It's possible they are still thrashing out where the investment goes.

 

I'm sure TB wants Hearts to follow the successful JA analytics path such as training facilities as well as the recruitment side. The money mentioned may be for the foundation base and not necessarily instant impact on the playing staff.

[ƒιѕнρℓαρѕ]

I bet the majority of any investment goes towards training facility expansion 

[The Treasurer]

Obviously not itk, but it wouldn't help negotiations for new players this month if we suddenly announced that we'd reached agreement on a £10m investment, if those figures are correct, which I've never seen confirmed by anyone at the club 

[Lord Beni of Gorgie]

Tony Bloom will look to keep things as quiet as possible I would think.

[Gavman81]

Small bit in the EN saying they expect deal to be concluded by Spring time…

 

Wether that’s March, April or May spring time remains to be seen